Bug FAQFortunate Wave
Idaea bonifata · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Geometridae
Also called: Fortunate Idaea, Fortunate Idaea Moth
Source: Wikipedia
Fortunate Wave moths have forewings about 6 to 7 mm long and belong to the Geometridae family. They are found across North America and adults are active from March through October. The larvae feed on decaying leaves and on stored grains, which can affect pantry items.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Fortunate Wave is a moth in the Geometridae family.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The forewings measure roughly 6 to 7 mm in length.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
The species can damage stored grains and pantry foods.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It lives in North America.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae eat decaying leaves and stored grains.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from March to October.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults can be seen from early spring through fall.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range includes North America.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 32 of 51 states and DC. Most records: California, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, North Carolina, Colorado, Kentucky, New York.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What do the larvae of Fortunate Wave eat?
They feed on decaying leaves and stored grains.
Source: Wikipedia
When are adult Fortunate Wave moths active?
Adults are on wing from March through October.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Geometridae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idaea_bonifata
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-24.